Monday, 4 October 2010

Touch of Yellow: Savoury Biscuit Hearts

Earlier this year Australia Post decided to change the postie’s uniforms from orange to yellow for greater visibility. Perhaps this is why we don’t have much yellow in our house.It demands attention.Perhaps this is why yellow was chosen to represent LiveSTRONG.LiveSTRONG is the Foundation created by champion cyclist Lance Armstrong after he discovered that he had cancer.He wanted to be an advocate for other cancer survivors, to lead the fight against cancer, to take action.Another fighter is Barbara of Winos and Foodies.

Each year since 2007 Barbara has run A Taste of Yellow, a food blog event, to promote the work of the Foundation and raise awareness of cancer.I was pleased to be able to participate in 2008 and 2009.Her courage in telling her story has been the catalyst for food bloggers around the globe sharing their stories of encounters with cancer.So many stories of sorrow and loss!Cancer has robbed too many people of parents, children, grandparents.

Cancer is not a story that I wish to be part of but this year it stole from us when E’s mother died of cancer.We were lucky that we were able to visit late last year after her diagnosis.We knew it was special to be able to spend time with her. Seeing her delight at Sylvia was priceless.My mother in law loved children so much that it seems unfair that she isn’t around to watch her grandchildren grow up.All too often I wish we could share our stories about Sylvia with her.She loved to hear about her grand daughter so much.

Instead, we will tell Sylvia stories about her grandmother, about her generosity, her wonderful sense of humour and her joie de vivre.We will find many ways to remember her.Today I dedicate this post and this yellow heart to her.

The biscuits are from Sweet Artichoke, a blogger I have recently discovered with a wonderful sense of creativity.She bakes savoury cupcakes as well as these savoury biscuits.As soon as I saw her Savoury Oat and Millet Cookies I wanted to make them.Then I discovered that it was LiveSTRONG Day on Sunday 2 October and decided if I upped the tumeric in these bikkies and did a bit of moulding, I would have the yellow hearts that Barbara sought to remind us all of LiveSTRONG.

The recipe wasn’t perfect.I am not sure whether it was substituting oats for millet flakes, replacing oatbran with millet meal, or using vintage cheddar and more of it than the parmesan cheese.When the biscuits came out of the oven there were little puddles of yellow oil on the tray.I ignored the advice that they were best cool.But I can confirm that these biscuits were much better the next day.Slightly crisp on the edges, slightly soft in the middle and slightly seedy all over.Full of flavour.Even Sylvia enjoyed them despite the spices. Definitely a recipe for repeating.

It's hard to know how to respond to these Livestrong posts, because half of me wants to rave over the baked goods (and I have been looking around for savoury recipes lately) but the other part is caught up in remembering personal losses and feeling sympathy for yours.

My father had a surgery for cancer 10 years ago. He is now ok. My father in law had a surgery for cancer this past summer and we hope that he will be fine. I guess evry family has at least on eincident either among relatives or friends. I love your salty cookies and the spices you used.

Thanks Helen - it is hard to know where to be heartened or saddened by your story - glad you remember the plate

Thanks Hannah - I know what you mean about responding to such posts - just think of it as sharing a confidence over a tea and bikkie - and hope to hear more of your savoury baking

Thanks Katerina - I'm glad your father is well and hope your father in law does well after his surgery - I think this event strikes a chord with so many people because like you say, so many of us as affected

Thanks Barbara - I am sure you will be a great inspiration to your grandchildren - I am sure they will be happy if they can spend time with you

Thanks Jodye - will be interested to hear how you go with a vegan version - some tofu and nutritional yeast flakes might be good to give some of the texture and flavour of the cheese

This is a very touching post. All my sympathy for the loss of your Mother in law.Thanks for the nice comment about my blog and I am still wondering why the biscuits did not come up as expected. Maybe cheddar is richer than parmesan? P.S. the heart-shaped ones are soooo cute!

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Recipes and reflections in which our vegetarian heroine dreams of being tall and graceful as a giraffe; being a goddess in the kitchen; and being gladdened by green gadgets, green food and green politics because green is the colour of hope. See About Me for more info.